No non-Japanese are allowed to enter Japan until the end of January in order to prevent the spread of new coronavirus variants in the country.

The Japanese government announced this on Monday, according to international media.

Business travelers and some Asian students are exempt from the travel restrictions, according to the Japan Times.

On Thursday, Japan banned entry for foreigners who have been to the United Kingdom or South Africa, two countries with confirmed mutations of the coronavirus.

Starting Wednesday, Japanese people and permanent residents of the country who come from countries and areas where the new virus variant has been confirmed must test themselves immediately upon arrival.

Japan has confirmed eight cases with the British mutation, with four being treated in hospital and the other four being quarantined. 

The British virus strain has been confirmed in about 20 countries, such as Hong Kong. 

South Korea reported its first cases of the feared more contagious version of the virus on Monday in three residents who traveled home from Britain last week, Handelsblatt writes.

Source: Nyhetsbyrån Direkt